Eugene V. Debs - Union Leader, Timeline and Facts
Eugene V. Debs's Personal Details
Eugene V
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 5, 1855 |
| Died on | October 20, 1926 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Socialists, Leaders, Union Leader |
| Ideologies | Socialists |
| City/State | Indiana |
| Spouses | Kate Metzel |
| Known as | Eugene Debs |
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Terre Haute |
| Political Ideology | Political party - Socialist |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Born in | Terre Haute |
| Famous as | Union Leader |
| Died at Age | 70 |
Eugene V. Debs's photo
Who is Eugene V. Debs?
Eugene V. Debs was an American union leader who co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). A die-hard socialist, he stood five times as the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States. Even though he could not achieve his dream of becoming the president of the nation, he eventually became one of the best-known socialists living in the United States. Born to French immigrants in the United States, he was not even able to complete his schooling. Forced to drop out of school at the age of 14, he began working as a painter in railroad yards before becoming a fireman. Having struggled a lot in his youth, he developed a compassion for all human beings, especially poor workers, and helped to organize the local chapter of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (BLF) of which he became the national secretary and treasurer. Over the years, he gained a name for himself because of his community service and went on to become president of the newly established American Railway Union. By this time he had also ventured into politics and was a committed adherent of the international socialist movement. He was a highly effective public speaker gifted with excellent oratory skills.
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Childhood & Early Life
Eugene Debs was born on November 5, 1855, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Jean Daniel and Marguerite Mari Bettrich Debs. His parents were immigrants from France.
He received his early education from Terre Haute Public schools but could not complete his schooling. Forced to drop out of high school at the age of 14, he took up a job as a painter in railroad yards.
Career
In 1871, a locomotive fireman failed to turn up for work and young Eugene Debs was pressed into service as a night fireman. He continued working as a fireman, on the run between Terre Haute and Indianapolis for the next three and half years. He also attended classes at night at a local business college.
He left his job as a railroad fireman and started working in wholesale grocery firm of Hulman & Cox as a billing clerk in 1874. The next year he became charter member and secretary of Vigo Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (BLF) and used his salary to help the local union.
He was very active in BLF and was selected to serve as a delegate of the Terre Haute lodge to the organization's national convention in 1877. The next year he became the elected associate editor of the BLF's monthly organ, ‘Firemen's Magazine’.
He became a prominent figure in the community due to his involvement with the BLF and served two terms as Terre Haute's city clerk from September 1879 to September 1883. In 1880, he was also appointed Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the BLF.
He was elected to the Indiana General Assembly as a Democrat in 1884 and served for one term.
He stepped down as Brotherhood Grand Secretary in 1893 and organized the American Railway Union in Chicago—one of the first industrial unions in United States. The union, led by Debs, conducted a successful strike for higher wages against the Great Northern Railway in April 1894 following which he gained much national prominence.
Later in 1894 Debs became involved in the Pullman Strike, started by the disgruntled workers who constructed the train cars made by the Pullman Palace Car Company. The company had cut the wages of its employees by 28% in the wake of the Panic of 1893 and the workers sought the support of the union members.
The Pullman Strike was a very intense one and soon had 80,000 workers participating in the strike, refusing to handle Pullman cars or any other railroad cars attached to them, including cars containing U.S. Mail. Since Debs was the leader of the strike, it came to be known as "Debs' Rebellion”.
The U.S federal government intervened in the strike as the strikers had obstructed the U.S. Mail, carried on Pullman cars, by refusing to show up for work. President Grover Cleveland sent the U.S. Army to break the strike. An estimated $80 million worth of property was damaged, 13 strikers were killed, and thousands others blacklisted in the ensuing violence.
Debs was arrested for participating in the strike and sent to federal prison. It was while serving his prison term that Eugene V. Debs became interested in socialist ideals. During the six months he spent in jail, he received several letters and books from socialists around the country and was thoroughly impressed by socialism.
He started his Socialist political career after his release from prison in 1895, and played a major role in the founding of the Social Democracy of America. This group soon split and Debs went with the majority faction to found the Social Democratic Party of the United States, also called the Social Democratic Party.
In 1905, he became one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an international radical labour union. The union was based on the philosophy of "revolutionary industrial unionism", with ties to both socialist and anarchist labour movements.
Between 1907 and 1912, he served as the Associate Editor of the ‘Appeal to Reason’ published in Girard, Kan. The weekly magazine was highly successful and achieved a circulation of several hundred thousand due to his persuasive and powerful writing.
Debs vehemently opposed war and in June 1918, made his famous anti-war speech in Canton, Ohio, protesting World War I which was raging in Europe. Following the speech he was arrested and convicted in federal court under the war-time espionage law, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
He had unsuccessfully run for the office of the President of the United States in 1900, 1904, 1908, and 1912. Now in prison, he was once again nominated to run for presidency on the Socialist party ticket in 1920. He received nearly a million votes but was defeated by the Republican, Warren G. Harding. The new president Harding released Debs from prison on Christmas Day, 1921, commuting his sentence to time served.
Major Works
Eugene V. Debs was one of the best-known socialists living in the United States, famous for his work with labour unions. Having worked with several smaller unions early on in his career, he was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and played an instrumental role in the founding of the American Railway Union (ARU), one of the nation's first industrial unions.
Personal Life & Legacy
Eugene Debs married Kate Metzel on June 9, 1885. They did not have any children.
On his return from prison, Debs received a hero’s welcome. However, years of confinement had robbed him of his good health and he struggled to recover his health after his release. He still remained active inspite of his failing health and made several speeches and wrote many articles.
He was admitted to Lindlahr Sanitarium in Elmhurst, Illinois in 1926 and died there of heart failure on October 20, 1926, at the age of 70.
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Eugene V. Debs biography timelines
- // 5th Nov 1855Eugene Debs was born on November 5, 1855, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Jean Daniel and Marguerite Mari Bettrich Debs. His parents were immigrants from France.
- // 1871In 1871, a locomotive fireman failed to turn up for work and young Eugene Debs was pressed into service as a night fireman. He continued working as a fireman, on the run between Terre Haute and Indianapolis for the next three and half years. He also attended classes at night at a local business college.
- // 1874He left his job as a railroad fireman and started working in wholesale grocery firm of Hulman & Cox as a billing clerk in 1874. The next year he became charter member and secretary of Vigo Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (BLF) and used his salary to help the local union.
- // 1877He was very active in BLF and was selected to serve as a delegate of the Terre Haute lodge to the organization's national convention in 1877. The next year he became the elected associate editor of the BLF's monthly organ, ‘Firemen's Magazine’.
- // 1884He was elected to the Indiana General Assembly as a Democrat in 1884 and served for one term.
- // 9th Jun 1885Eugene Debs married Kate Metzel on June 9, 1885. They did not have any children.
- // 1893 To Apr 1894He stepped down as Brotherhood Grand Secretary in 1893 and organized the American Railway Union in Chicago—one of the first industrial unions in United States. The union, led by Debs, conducted a successful strike for higher wages against the Great Northern Railway in April 1894 following which he gained much national prominence.
- // 1893 To 1894Later in 1894 Debs became involved in the Pullman Strike, started by the disgruntled workers who constructed the train cars made by the Pullman Palace Car Company. The company had cut the wages of its employees by 28% in the wake of the Panic of 1893 and the workers sought the support of the union members.
- // 1895He started his Socialist political career after his release from prison in 1895, and played a major role in the founding of the Social Democracy of America. This group soon split and Debs went with the majority faction to found the Social Democratic Party of the United States, also called the Social Democratic Party.
- // 1905In 1905, he became one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an international radical labour union. The union was based on the philosophy of "revolutionary industrial unionism", with ties to both socialist and anarchist labour movements.
- // 1907 To 1912Between 1907 and 1912, he served as the Associate Editor of the ‘Appeal to Reason’ published in Girard, Kan. The weekly magazine was highly successful and achieved a circulation of several hundred thousand due to his persuasive and powerful writing.
- // 1908He had unsuccessfully run for the office of the President of the United States in 1900, 1904, 1908, and 1912. Now in prison, he was once again nominated to run for presidency on the Socialist party ticket in 1920. He received nearly a million votes but was defeated by the Republican, Warren G. Harding. The new president Harding released Debs from prison on Christmas Day, 1921, commuting his sentence to time served.
- // Jun 1918Debs vehemently opposed war and in June 1918, made his famous anti-war speech in Canton, Ohio, protesting World War I which was raging in Europe. Following the speech he was arrested and convicted in federal court under the war-time espionage law, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- // 20th Oct 1926He was admitted to Lindlahr Sanitarium in Elmhurst, Illinois in 1926 and died there of heart failure on October 20, 1926, at the age of 70.
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Eugene V. Debs's FAQ
What is Eugene V. Debs birthday?
Eugene V. Debs was born at 1855-11-05
When was Eugene V. Debs died?
Eugene V. Debs was died at 1926-10-20
Where was Eugene V. Debs died?
Eugene V. Debs was died in Elmhurst
Which age was Eugene V. Debs died?
Eugene V. Debs was died at age 70
Where is Eugene V. Debs's birth place?
Eugene V. Debs was born in Terre Haute
What is Eugene V. Debs nationalities?
Eugene V. Debs's nationalities is American
What is Eugene V. Debs ideologies?
Eugene V. Debs's ideologies is Socialists
Who is Eugene V. Debs spouses?
Eugene V. Debs's spouses is Kate Metzel
Which company or organization was founded by Eugene V. Debs?
Eugene V. Debs was the founder/co-founder of American Railway Union, Social Democratic Party of America, Industrial Workers of the World, Socialist Party of America, Socialist Party USA
What is Eugene V. Debs's political ideology?
Eugene V. Debs's political ideology is Political party - Socialist
What is Eugene V. Debs's religion?
Eugene V. Debs's religion is Christianity
What is Eugene V. Debs's sun sign?
Eugene V. Debs is Scorpio
How famous is Eugene V. Debs?
Eugene V. Debs is famouse as Union Leader